Reaction to Supreme Court birth control decision

The Supreme Court ruled Monday that some companies like the Oklahoma-based Hobby Lobby chain of arts-and-craft stores can avoid the contraceptives requirement in President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, if they have religious objections.

A sampling of reaction:

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“Today, the Supreme Court took an outrageous step against the rights of America’s women, setting a dangerous precedent that could permit for-profit corporations to pick and choose which laws to obey.” — House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

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“Today’s decision is a victory for religious freedom and another defeat for an administration that has repeatedly crossed constitutional lines in pursuit of its big government objectives.” — House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

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“Employers have no business intruding in the private health care decisions women make with their doctors. … If the Supreme Court will not protect women’s access to health care, then Democrats will.” — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

“Our family is overjoyed by the Supreme Court’s decision. Today the nation’s highest court has re-affirmed the vital importance of religious liberty as one of our country’s founding principles. The Court’s decision is a victory, not just for our family business, but for all who seek to live out their faith.” — Barbara Green, Hobby Lobby co-founder.

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“President Obama believes that women should make personal health care decisions for themselves rather than their bosses deciding for them.” — White House spokesman Josh Earnest.

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“Today, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of religious freedom by taking a stand with Hobby Lobby. Religious liberty will remain intact and all Americans can stay true to their faith without fear of big government intervention or punishment.” — Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate.

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“I disagree with the reasoning as well as the conclusion. Just think about this for a minute. It’s the first time that our court has said that a closely held corporation has the rights of a person when it comes to religious freedom.” — Hillary Rodham Clinton, former secretary of state and potential 2016 Democratic presidential candidate.

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“Simply put, the moral views of a patient’s boss should have no bearing on his or her ability to access needed medical treatments.” — Dr. Rebecca Sokol, president of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

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“It conjures up fake religious freedom rights for corporations while being blind to the importance of birth control to America’s working women.” — the Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

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